Top Rags to Riches Stories

No. 4: Sam Walton

SamWalton-1936Public Domain Image: Public Domain

If Sam Walton does not ring any bells, Wal-Mart might. The founder of the most popular chain of department stores in the US grew up in Oklahoma. Because his family had troubles making ends meet, he helped around by milking cows and selling the milk to locals. He also had a newspaper route. Using a loan from his in-laws, he opened his first store in Arkansas and went on from that.